United Launches Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative

United Airlines says it will measure and evaluate the sustainability of its suppliers’ products and operations and then set targets for improvements in 2014.

The survey is part of United’s sustainable supply chain initiative. United says it will also integrate environmentally focused questions into its request for proposal process.

The sustainable supply chain program is intended to help United evaluate whether using its suppliers’ products and services reduces the airline’s environmental footprint, the company says.

The new sustainability initiative follows United’s goal set last week to save 85 million gallons of fuel in 2013. The airline says this savings will equal 828,750 metric tons of CO2 or about $275 million dollars at current fuel prices.

Also last week, the USDA extended for five years its agreement to work with the FAA and commercial aviation partners, including Boeing and industry trade group Airlines for America, to help develop a viable biofuel for the aviation industry.

Earlier this month, Unilever announced it is sourcing more than a third of its agricultural raw materials sustainably, putting the global consumer goods and food company closer to its target of 100 percent by 2020. With 36 percent now sourced sustainably, Unilever has exceeded the interim milestone of 30 percent it set itself in 2010.